Task Duration Estimation
Task Duration Estimation
Focus Engine automatically estimates how long each task will take, so the Day Planner can schedule realistic focus blocks without requiring you to manually size every piece of work.
How It Works
When the planner assigns a task to a time slot, it looks up the task type and applies a default duration. This duration is used to determine how much of a slot the task consumes and whether subsequent tasks can fit in the same block or need their own.
Default Durations by Task Type
| Task Type | Default Duration |
|---|---|
| Bug fix | 60 minutes |
| Feature | 120 minutes |
| Quick win | 45 minutes |
| Client work | 90 minutes |
| PR review | 30 minutes |
| Meeting prep | 20 minutes |
These defaults are applied automatically — no configuration is needed.
Overriding an Estimate
If the default duration doesn't reflect the actual size of a task, you can override it per task:
- Open the task in the Day Planner.
- Edit the duration field.
- Enter the time in minutes.
The new value is saved to the local task record immediately.
How Durations Are Stored
Durations — whether set by the default lookup or entered manually — are stored on the local task record. This means:
- Overrides persist across planning sessions. Once you set a duration for a task, it won't be reset on the next planner run.
- Default lookups re-apply if a task has no stored duration (for example, a newly imported task).
Interaction with the Day Planner
Duration estimation feeds directly into the planner's slot-filling logic:
- Tasks are placed into slots in priority order.
- Each task consumes time equal to its estimated (or overridden) duration.
- 15-minute context-switching buffers are inserted between blocks as usual.
- If a task's duration exceeds the remaining time in a slot, it is moved to the next available slot or flagged as overflow.
Tip: For tasks that span multiple days or sessions, set a duration that reflects the work needed in the current session rather than the total remaining effort.
Tasks Without a Recognised Type
If a task's type doesn't match any of the built-in categories, no automatic duration is applied. The planner will prompt you to enter a duration manually before scheduling that task.